CHESSanity was founded in 2014 by FIDE Master Wesley Wang and National Master Warren, two brothers hailing from Jericho, NY, in response to huge demands from Long Island chess parents for quality and collegiate chess lessons.
FIDE Master Wesley Wang
Portrait of Wesley Wang
Biography
Highly regarded by many as a Renaissance man, FM Wesley Wang, while extremely accomplished as a chess player, is thoroughly passionate in many other areas of the arts. Aspiring to become a filmmaker, he spends most of his nights making, watching, analyzing and films. He attended the New York Film Academy in the summer of 2018, the USC Advanced Screenwriting Course in the summer of 2020, has produced several award winning short films (most notably Faces, which won an American Visions Award at Scholastic), and shot numerous commercials for corporations around the US. His favorite films include the works of Paul Thomas Anderson and Robert Bresson. In addition to film, his excitement about music is also noticeably contagious to those around him. He plays the drums, piano, guitar, sings, and often composes his own pieces of music. His favorite artists include The Strokes and Kendrick Lamar. It doesn't stop there, though. Wesley plays badminton for the Jericho High School varsity team, last year winning County Doubles with his teammate Fahad Karim. In the spring, he runs track; most notably, the 400 meter dash. At the end of freshman year, he recorded a huge personal best of 53.81 at the Nassau County Championships. He hopes to break 50 seconds by the end of high school. When peers are asked to describe him in three words, the most common responses are, "Creative, outgoing, and determined". Wesley's youtube channel where he occasionally posts his work: (Link) Wesley's film review website: (Link) |
Wesley after being crowned the champion of the 9th grade at the National Grade Championships in Florida for both individual and team.
Chess Achievements
Silver Medalist - 2019 North American Youth Chess Championships (U18 Open) and 2016 North American Youth Chess Championships (U12 Open) Member - 2018 US Youth U16 Olympiad Chess Team Member - 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, & 2016 All-America Chess Team Member - 2019 National K-12 Grade Team Championships, 10th Grade Champion Team (Jericho High School); 2016 & 2015 National K-12 Grade Team Championships, 7th & 6th Grade Champion Teams (Jericho Middle School); 2017 SuperNationals VI (K-9 Section ) Champion Team (Jericho Middle School); 2016 National Junior High Championship (K-8 Section ) Champion Team (Jericho Middle School) Member - 2017 AND 2016 U.S. Amateur Team East Champion Teams Co-Champion - 2018 National K-12 Grade Championships, 9th Grade; 2017 SuperNationals VI (K-9 Section); 2016 National K-12 Grade Championships, 7th Grade; 2016 National Junior High Championship (K-8 Section) Champion - 2015 National K-12 Grade Championships, 6th Grade 3rd Place - 2018 National High School Championship, Championship Section 6 Time U.S. Qualifier - The World Youth and Cadets Championships (2014-2019) |
National Master Warren Wang
Warren Wang visiting the Louisville Slugger Museum as an avid Yankees fan. (Pictured here with Babe Ruth's plaque).
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Warren after winning 6th place at the National Junior High School Chess Championship
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Biography
Learning chess at the age of four and beginning to play in tournaments before he was six, NM Warren Wang is a well-seasoned and very experienced chess competitor. Presently coached by GM Gennady Sagalchik, Warren has evolved into one of the top players in his age group in the United States. He has been consistently ranked in the top 100 for his age group in the country, having achieved this feat every month since April 2007. Additionally, he has attained the National Master title: a feat achieved by only six other Long Island players before the age of 18 (including his brother). Outside of chess, Warren has many different hobbies, many of which revolve around sports. He is currently on University of Pennsylvania Team for both chess and badminton, and has also played high school's tennis varsity and travel soccer for many years. Besides playing sports, Warren also loves to watch sports, particularly soccer, where he is an avid supporter of Chelsea FC and the Belgian national team. His other interests include films (particularly The Shawshank Redemption and many Christopher Nolan pieces) and certain types of trivia. Warren is a freshman at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Some of Warren's academic honors include being named as a U.S. Presidential Scholar Semifinalist (Link) and one of 15 Long Island's "Extraordinary Seniors" in 2018 by Newsday (Link). |
Chess Achievements
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From the Parents:
What sparked the idea of “Adopt a School” initiative was Warren’s few trips to Hempstead High School with his high school badminton varsity team. He was shocked at the tight security system there. As parents, we have found it improbable, if not impossible, to help the children truly understand how fortunate they are, who were born with a silver spoon in their mouths and have been pampered all their lives.
Ever prideful of their chess achievements, Warren and Wesley are also fully aware that many chess players out there could have done as well as they did if given the opportunities and resources they had received. Thus, one of CHESSanity's main programs, the “Adopt a School” initiative was born.
Warren and Wesley have been teaching a group of 5 to 8-years-old kids since the spring of 2014, in response to the huge demands from the parents in nearby neighborhoods. Most of these students have graduated and the results are astounding. It has not been an easy journey for us as parents, and especially more difficult for Warren and Wesley. Just like their peers, they prefer video games and other activities, such as tennis, soccer, and badminton to name a few, in preference to school, say nothing about teaching! Nevertheless, with exception to holidays, school breaks and a few large chess tournaments of their own, Warren and Wesley's Friday evenings since April 2014 have been spent in classrooms, on teaching chess.
Warren and Wesley go as far as to loathe purchasing beverages from a vending machine and choose to bring water from home instead. It takes a big heart to donate such hard-earned money, especially money earned on a Friday night, to a charitable cause. As parents, we are very proud and feel much blessed.
We are incredibly grateful that Warren and Wesley can utilize their chess skills and make some meaningful impact upon the communities.